Guard-finger



(No Model.) i W. H. SHAROOD.

GUARD FINGER. No. 358,488. Patented Mar; 1, 1887..

N. PEYERS. Phulo'Lflhognphnr. Wuhingmn. D. C.

UNITED STATES Brien.

PATENT WILLIAM H. SHAROOD, OF SOUTH TOLEDO, ASSIGNOR TO ALONZO P. FISHER,

OF WAUSEON, AND PATRICK DOVVLIN G, OF SOUTH TOLEDO, OHIO. J

GUARD-FINGER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 358,488, dated March 1, 1887.

Application filed February 11, 1886. Serial No. 191,632.

(No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM H. SHAROOD, a citizen of the United States, residing at South Toledo, in the county of Lucas and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Guard-Fingers; and I do declare the following to he a full, clear, and ex act description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to cutting apparatus for reaper and mowing machines, and is particularly designed as an improvement in the construction of the guard-finger and ledgerplate and in the manner of securing the ledgerplate to the finger, whereby the plate may be readily removed and replaced, and all undue wearpreventedfromcomingthereupon. These desiderata are attained by providing a finger with a raised portion directly in front of the finger-supporting bar, said portion being extended laterally on each side of the body of the finger to form abutments. A recess is provided in the forward edge of this raised pro- ;jection of a depth equal to the thickness of the ledger-plate, the heel of which is seated therein, so that the upper surface of the plate is on a level with the raised portion of the finger. The forward end of the ledger-plate is secured to the finger in the usual manner. The rear end or heel terminates in a shank, which is fitted in said recess, and wingsone on each side of the shankto fit against the extended portions or horns, and has two openings, one

larger than the other, the larger one being direotly in advance of the other and joined by a narrow opening. A screw passing through the smaller opening firmly secures the ledger- 1 plate in position.

The invention further consists in novel fea tures, more fully hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the annexed drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of a finger embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a plan view with a held in place.

portion broken away. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the ledger-plate detached.

The body of the finger A is provided with the usual lateral projection-or horns, a, which are in a plane slightly higher than the top of the shank A, to project above and in front of the finger supporting bar. The projections are united at their rear sides by a ridge, a, forming a recess, o in which the heel of the ledgerplate B is seated. The surface of the ledgerplate, horns, and ridge are in same plane. Consequently in practice the wear of the sickle is principally on the horns a and ridge (0. The rear end of the plate B is reduced, forming a shank, B, which fits into the recess a The forward edge of the horns is gradually sloped, and the shoulders I) on each side of the shank B overlap a portion of the horns, as clearly shown, making a snug fit, and preventing the accumulation or lodgment of trash between the finger and ledger-plate.

The front end of the plate B has the usual projection, b, to fit into a recess in the forward part of the finger. The rear portion has two openings, 0 c, the one directly in advance of the other, and communicating by a narrow passage, 0". The opening a is smaller than c, and is countersunk to receive the head of a bolt or screw, D, by which the ledger-plate is By this construction it will be readily seen that the plate may be readily and quickly removed and replaced without the necessity of removing the screw. By unscrewing the latter part way, so that the shank of the plate may be elevated above the raised portion, the plate may be removed by moving it rearwardly, which will disengage the projection b, and cause the opening 0 to register with the head of the screw, which latter, being smaller, will pass through the opening and permit the disengagement of the plate. The reverse of this operation is necessary when it is desired to replace the plate, as will be readily appreciated.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

The combination, with the finger having the raised portion in front of its shank projected laterally, forming the horns a a, which have the curved forward edges of the horns, as and their forward edges curved, as shown, said for the purpose set forth.

1o raised portion having the recess a in its up- In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in per front edge, which forms the ridge a, of the presence of two witnesses.

5 ledger-plate having the shank B seated in the \VILLIAM H. SHAROOD.

recess, fitted snugly against the ridge, and pro- Witnesses: vided with the wings I), which are curved on A. H. PLANT, their rear edges, overlap, and fit closely against HELEN M. JA UIs. 

